Clay-gun.



F. H. N. GERWIG.

CLAY GUN. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1911.

' Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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wfiNEssEs P. H. N. GERWIG.

CLAY GUN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. B, 1911. 1,013,153. Patented Jan.2, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES g/QIQZWM FIG.2

HNVENTOR F. H. N. GERW-IG. CLAY GUN. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

WIT NESSES I F. H. N. GBRWIG.

CLAY GUN. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

FIG. 5

WITNESSES g INVENTOR WW jVWZK/fw /k///(2(a(/@&A

ed certain new and useful CLAY-GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 8, 1911. Serial No. 648,273.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. N. GERWIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invent- Improvements in Clay-Guns, of which the following is a specification. J

My invention relates to the construction and arrangement of clay ns used in closing or stopping tap holes 0 furnaces after the casting operations, and more particularly relates to apparatus used in plugging the tap holes of blast furnaces with plastic clay and similar materials.

' One object of my invention is to provide a clay gun and actuating mechanism which is positively moved into and out of operative position in front of the tap-hole of the furnace to which it is a'pplied.=

Another object of the invention is to provide a clay gun or apparatus for stopping or plugging the tap-holes of blast furnaces which is automatically moved into operative position in the ruuner or iron trough in front of the furnace tap-hole, and is positively held against backward movement While being actuated to expel the clay from the clay cylinder into the tap-hole to stop the tap-hole or iron notch after each casting operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for stopping the tapholes of blast furnaces by the use of which the necessity of checking the furnace or shutting off the blast therefrom while the tap-hole or iron notch is being closed or plugged is avoided ahd rendered unnecessary.

A still further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for stopping the taphaving novel means holes of furnaces whereby the apparatus is moved out of its operative position 1n front of the tap-hole,

and by which the actuating mechanism is controlled by means located conveniently at a distance fromin front of the furnace and still further objects of my invention will appear as more fully explained hereinafter. Referring to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is an elevation partly in section showing the tap-hole or iron notch of a-blast furnace in longitudinal section, and having my impressure cylinder 5 having 'movable relatively, thereto.

proved clay gun and operating mechanism applied for use thereon. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the furnace and apparatus shown in Fig. 1.. Fig. 3 is a plan partly in section of the apparatus shownv in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a'longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, showing a detail of the clay gun and clay gun support forming part of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation on an enlarged scale showing a detail of the connections between the clay gun and the furnace column and Fig. 6 is a plan partly in section of the same. Fig. 7 is a development of the spiral grooves in the inner faces of the sliding sleeve or support.

In the accompanying nates a blast furnace having a tap-hole or ironnotch 3 with a runner or trough 4 extending lengthwise in front of the tap-hole in the usual manner. Located in front of the tap-hole 3 is shown, (in full lines) in the posit-ion into which it is swung in front of the furnace tap-hole preparatory to movin the nose of the gun forwardly lengthwisennto the taphole 3 (into the position shown dotted in Fig. 1).

The clay gun drawings, 2 desigcomprises an outer fluid a second cylinder to be lengthwlse 6 mounted therein so as One end of the fluid pressure cylinder 6-is cylinder head 7* having an internally screw threaded portion 9 in which the screw threaded end of the clay cylinder 10 is secured. The opposite end of the clay cyl nder 10 isprovided with a conical discharge ,nozzle 11 through which the clay or other plastic material is forced out of the cylinder in operating the clay gun, and, at an intermediate point in the length of this cylinder 10 an opening 12 is provided through which the plastic clay or other material used in pluggingor filling the furnace tap-hole within the clay, cylinder. A

is placed cover 13 is" provided to norhinged door or mally close the opening 12 the bolt 14 being pivoted to the cylinder 10- and having. a hanto secure the cover 13 in a I 105 dled locking nut 15 closing position over the open ng 12. I

The clay cylinder 10 has ,a piston 16 con- Patented Jan. 2,1912. I

the clay gun which is provided with a nected to one end. of a plston rod, 17 which extends through an open1ng8 in vthe cylin center line of the tap-hole 3 and trough 4,

clay gun is swung around by the arm 28 and vided with diametrically der head 7 into the cylinder 6, a piston 18 fixed to the other end of the piston rod 17 being located in the cylinder 6 to actuate the piston 16 in the clay cylinder 10 in expelling the clay or other plastic material placed therein in the tap-hole plugging or closing operations.

The cylinder 6 which is longitudinally movable in the outer cylinder 5 has a cylinder head 19 secured on its rear end which is provided with a cylindrical tail 20 arranged to extendrearwardly through the gland 21 in the stufling box formed in the rear cylinder head 22 for the cylinder 5. A projection 23 on the cylinder 6 extends into the longitudinal slot 24 on the inner surface of the cylinder 5 to prevent rotary movement of the cylinder 6 when reciprocated in the cylinder 5, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The rear end of the cylinder 6 has an annular enlarged portion forming a piston 6, by which the cylinder 6 is reciprocated or moved lengthwise in the cylinder 5.

The cylinder 5 of the clay gun is provided with horizontally extending trunnions 25, 25 by Whicli'it is secured to the trunnion yoke.26 so as to be angularly adjustable. The trunnion yoke 26 has a vertically ex tending neck portion 26 whereby the clay gun is mounted in the bearing 27 on the outer end of the arm 28 forming part of the sliding sleeve 29, the neck 26 being axially adjustable in the bearing 27.

The clay gun, Wh'en mounted-upon the sliding sleeve 29, is adjustable 'angularly relative to the horizontal in the trunnion yoke 26 to permit adjustment of the clay gun so as to point the nozzle 11 toward the tap-hole 3 at the'proper angle when the sleeve 29 into ahnement vertically with the (the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) The cylinders forming the clay gun are held in adjusted position in the trunnion yoke 26 by the eye bolt 30 secured in the brackets or lugs 31 on the yoke 26 and lugs 32 on the rear head 22 of the cylinder 5. The neck 26 of the yoke which is rotatable in the adjusted position therein by the removable cap 2-7 forming part of this bearing.

The sliding sleeve 29 encircles the enlarged portion 33 of the column 33 forming one of the furnace supporting columns and is made in'two sections, as clearly shownin Fig. 6, which are bolted together in mov- -ably securing the sleeve'on the column 33. The inner surfaces of the sleeve 29 are proopposite slotsorgrooves 34, 34 which extend vertically downward from the upper end of the sleeve for a short distancev and then continue spirally downward. (A development of one of these slots or grooves 34 on the sleeve 29 Weight of the lifted, parts of the is shown in Fig. 7). The lower edge of the sleeve 29 is also provided with diametrically opposite slots or recesses 35, 35. The enlarged portion 33 of the column 33 has a horizontal pin 36 extending transversely therethrough, the end portions 36 of which project into the recesses 34 in the sleeve 29 to cause this sleeve and the clay gun supported thereon to swing axially around the column 33 when moved vertically by the lifting mechanism for the clay gun. A second horizontally extending pin 37 in the column 33, located at a lower point in the height thereof, has projecting end portions 37, 37 which extend into the recesses 35 on the sleeve 29 so as to lock the sleeve and the clay gun mechanism mounted thereon against axial movement on the column 33 when the sleeve 29 is in its lowermost position. A flange 38 is provided on the column 33 to limit the downward movement of the sleeve and clay gun mechanism supported thereon.

The sleeve or support 29 is secured to one end of the chains or other flexible connections 39, 39, which pass around sheave wheels 40 rotatably mounted by pins 41 to the upper end of the column 33 and which are connected by the other end to the equalizing bar 42, attached by a clevis 43 to one end of the flexible connection 44. The cable or, flexible connection 44 is caused to pass around a sheave wheel 45 rotatably secured on the bracket 45, which is fixed tooneof the building columns 46 supporting the furnace cast house. The lower end of the cable 44 is secured to the upper end of a piston rod 47 which extends through the opposite ends of the fluid pressure cylinder 48. The lower end of the piston rod 47 has a counterweight 49 attached thereto to counterbalance, to a greater or lesser extent, the clay gun and supporting mechanism. The plston 7 rod 47, at an intermediate point in its length has a piston 50 which travels lengthwise in the cylinder 48, this cylinder also being attached to the column 46 of the cast house building.

bearing 27 is clamped and held in its axially A manifold 51 having a series of separate, independent, screw threaded outlet openings 52, 53, 54 and 55 is secured to the inclined upper surface of the swinging arm 28 carrying the clay gun. One of the outlets 52 is connected by pipingv to the screw threaded end of the fixed member 56 of the telescopic pipe connection through which fluid pressure is supplied to the rear end of the telescopic or longitudinally movable cylinder v-6-. The member 56 is formed integral on the outer surface of the cylinder 5 and its opposite end is provided with a stuffing box and gland 57. through which one end of the movable member 58 of the telescopic pipe connection extends. The opposite end of the used in rendering member 58 is connected to the port or inlet 59 for the cylinder 6 formed in the'tail20 on the cylinder head 19. A clamp 60 rigidly secures the pipe 58 to the tail' 20 so as to reciprocate the movable telescoping member 58 with the cylinder 6. The outlet opening 53 in the manifold is connected by a walking pipe or flexible conductor to the port opening 61 in the opposite cylinderconnected by telescoping swivel. pipes 64, 65,

66 and 67 (see F] g. 1) with stationary pipes 68, 69, 70, and 71 through which fluid pressure is supplied to and exhausted from the cylinders in actuating the clay gun cylinders. The stationary pipes 68 and 69 are connected to a four way operating valve of any known type which is located adjacent to the building column 46 on which the lifting cylinder 48 is secured. The stationary pipes 70 and 71 likewise are connected to a similar four way valve in the same location and a third four way valve is connected bv suitable piping to the ports in the opposite endsof the lifting cylinder 48 so that the apparatus may be manipulated from a point adjacent to the building column 46 and far enough away from the iron notch 3 to be out of danger of injury to the operator. The valves are provided with suitable exhaust pipes and are connected to a source of fluid pressure supply.

The operation of my improvedapparatus is as follows :-Theclay gun and actuating mechanism being swung into the position shown dotted in Figs. 1 and 2,the opening 12 is uncovered and the clay cylinder 10 is filled with plastic clay, or a' plastic mixture of clay and plumbago. VV-ater ordinarily is the material plastic. When the cylinder 10 is being filled the piston is in its retracted position (that shown dotted in Figs. 2 and 3). The operating valve for the lifting cylinder is then manipulated to admit fluid pressure to the lower side of the piston 50 in the cylinder 48 and the piston 50 is thereby caused to rise or lift in this cylinder. At the beginning of the lifting movement of the piston 50 the swin ing arm 28 and-sleeve support 29 with the c' ay gun mechanism carried thereby be-.

gins to move downwardly into lowered position. When downward movement of the arm 28 and the clay gun mechanism supported thereon commences, the spiral grooves 34 on the interior of the sleeve 29 which surrounds the enlarged machined portion 33 of the column 33 by engagement with the ends 36*01 the pin 36 causes the sleeve 29 formed integral with the supporting arm 28 and mechanism thereon to move downwardly in a spiral path. This movement gradually swings or advances the clay gun from the position shown dotted in Figs. 2 and 3, toward that shown in full lines in these figures. When the spiral movement of the sleeve 29 has progressed so as to swing the clay gun into position in alinement vertically with the tap-hole 3 and trough 4 the vertically extending portions of the opposite grooves 34in the bore of the sleeve 29, by engagement with the ends 36, 36* of the pin 36 in the column 33 cause the clay gun in its further downward movement into operative .position to descend vertically into the trough 4, without further splral movement, into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1; The vertically downward movement of the sleeve 29 on the column 33 brings the projecting ends 37*, looking engagement with the sides of the opposite recesses 35, at diametrically opposite points on the lower marginal edge of the sleeve 29 so as to prevent swinging of the arm 28 and sleeve 29 on the column 33 when in this position. The flange 38 limits the downward movement of the sleeve 29 by engagement with the "end of this sleeve. Its controlling valve is then manipulated to cause the cylinder 6 to move lengthwise in the cylinderfi until the nozzle 11 on the discharge end of the clay cylinder 10 is advanced into the furnace ,tap-hole 3 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 into that shown by dotted lines, and when gas- 37 of a second pin 37 intoeous fluid pressure is used, the valve is maiiitained in open position to hold the cylinder 6 in advanced position in the cylinder 5 while the clay is being expelled from the clay cylinder. The operating valve for the cylinder 6 is then manipulated to cause the piston 16 to advance in the clay cylinder 10 5 and expel the clay or other material therein into the tap-hole 3 of the blast furnace, so

' as to efiectively plug or close the tap-hole.

The clay cylinder 10 is made of sufiicient size to hold a quantity of clay sufficient to insure the tap-hole 3 always being filled. After the clay has been expelled from the clay cylinder 10 nipulated so as to retract the cylinder 6 the operating valve is main the cylinder 5 and fluid pressure is then admitted to the upper end of the lifting cylihder 44. The clay gun is thereby caused to of the trough 4, and, upon continuing the lifting movement, the clay gun is automatically swung about the axis of the column 33, to which the apparatus is secured, 'until again in the position shown dotted in Figs.

first lift vertically until out of and clear 2 and 3. The clay cylinder is then again filled with the plastic material used in stopping or closing the tap-hole in the same manner as before described. The apparatus is then in operative condition in readiness to be again automatically swung into. position and actuated to plug the tap-hole of a furnace when required, and after each casting operation the above described operations are repeated in plugging the tap-holes of such furnaces.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. By its use the clay gun is easily and quickly shifted into position in line with the tap-hole of the furnace and secured in operatlng position without manual labor, other than manipulating the remotely located operating valves.

The nozzle of the clay gun is brought in close proximity to the tap-hole sothat by expelling the clay from the clay cylinder the tap-hole is quickly and effectively stopped or plugged. The clay gun is locked 1n operative position in front of the tap-hole and backward movement thereof during the clay expelling operation is prevented. After the completion of the stopping or plugging operation the apparatus is automatically moved baokwardly into position away from in front of the furnace.

A distinct advantage of my invention lies in constructing the clay cylinder'of the apparatus of a size to hold a sufficient quantity of clay to fill the tap-hole of the furnace at a single stroke of the clay expelling piston.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from my invention as defined in the claims. The mechanism for supporting theclay gun may be changed and other variations may be made.

I claim Apparatus for stopping holes comprising a clay gun, movable supporting arm to which the clay gun is secured, a stationary support on flirnace tapwhich the supporting arm is movably mounted and means on the supporting arm and stationary support co-acting to swing the supporting arm and clay gun axially on the stationary support when the supporting arm is moved vertically. v

2. Apparatus for stopping furnace tapholes comprising a clay gun, a movable sup-' porting arm to which the clay gun is secured, a stationary support on which the supporting arm is movably mounted, means for moving the supporting arm vertically on the stationary support and means on the supporting armand stationary support coacting to swing the supporting arm and clay gun axially on the stationary support when the supportingarm is moved vertically.

3. Apparatus for stopping furnace tapholes' comprising a clay gun, a movable supa vertically axially around the axis of the stationary support when the supporting arm is lowered on the stationary support to thereby move the clay gun into operative position in front of the furnace tap-hole.

4. Apparatus for stopping furnace tapholes comprising a clay gun, a movable supporting arm to which the clay gun is secured, a stationary support on which the supporting arm is movably mounted, means for moving the supporting arm vertically on the stationary support and means on the stationary support engaging the supporting arm to swing the clay gun axially about the axis of the stationary support when the support is lifted to thereby move the clay gun out of operative position in front of the furnace tap-hole.

5. Apparatus for stopping furnace tapholes comprising a clay gun, a movable supporting arm to which the clay gun is secured, a stationary support on which the supporting arm is movably mounted, means for moving the supporting arm vertically on the stationary support, means on the supporting arm and stationary support co-acting to swing the supporting arm and clay gun axially on the stationary support when the supporting'a'rm is moved vertically and" means on the stationary arm support and supporting arm co-acting to automatically lock. the clay gun against backward movement when in position in front of the furnace tap-hole.

6. Apparatus for stopping furnace. tap-" holes comprising a clay gun, a movable sup-- porting arm to which the clay gun is securedso as to be angularly adjustable, a

stationary support on which the supporting,

arm is" movably mounted, means by which the clay gun is secured in adjusted position onthe supporting arm, means for moving the supporting arm vertically on the stationary support and means on the supporting arm-and stationary support co-acting to swing the supporting arm .axially -on the stationary support when the supporting arm is moved vertically. I

7. A clay gun for closing furnace tap holes comprising, a clay cylinder and a motive cylinder arranged in tandem, pistons in said cylinders operatively connected together, a support for said cylinders permitting lengthwise movement thereof in the support, means on which the' cylinder support is mounted, mechanismlfor moving the cylinders on the support to bring the clay cylinder nozzle into and out of operative pohole.

sition in front of the tap-hole, and independent means for moving the cylinder supting lengthwise movement thereof in the cylinder support, means on which the cylinder support is mounted, mechanism for moving the cylinders on the support to bring the clay cylinder nozzle into and out of operative position in front of the tap-hole, independent means' for moving the cylinder sup port, said means being arranged to automatically swing the cylinder support to move the cylinders into and out of position in front of the furnace tap-hole and means whereby the cylinder support is locked against backward movement when in operative position in front of the furnace taphole.

9. A clay gun for closing furnace tapholes comprising a clay cylinder and a motive cylinder arranged in tandem, pistons in said cylinders operatively connected together, means for supporting said cylinders permitting lengthwise movement thereof in' the cylinder support, means for moving the cylinders on the support to move the clay cylinder nozzle into and out of operative position in front of the tap-hole and means for raising andlowering said cylinder support and cylinders carried thereby, said lifting means being arranged, when being lifted, to automatically swing the supports, and cylinders away from in front of the furnace-tap- 10, A clay gunffor closing furfiace tapholes comprising 'a clay cylinder and a motive cylinder arranged in tandem,'pistons in said cylinders operatively connected together, means for supportingsaid cylinders permitting lengthwise movement thereof in the cylinder support, means for moving the cylinders on the support to bring the clay cylinder nozzle 1nto and out of operative position in front'of the tap-hole and means for raising and lowering said cylinder support and cylinders carried thereby, said lifting means being arranged when being lowered to automatically swing the support and cylinders into position in front of the furnace tap-hole.

IL A holes comprising a clay cylinder and a motive cylinder arranged in tandem, pistons in said cylinders operatively connected, together, means for supporting said cylinders permitting lengthwise movement thereof in cylinders into and out of operative position ativelyconnected together, a trunnion yoke clay gun for closing furnacetap the cylinder support, means for moving the cylinders on the support to bring the clay cylinder nozzle into and out of operative position in front of the tap-hole, and power means for raising and lowering said cylinder support and cylinders carried thereby, said lifting means being arranged when being lowered to automatically swing the support and cylinders into position in front of the furnace tap-hole and lock thegun in such position.

12. A clay gun for closing furnace tapholes comprising a clay cylinder and a motive cylinder arranged in tandem, pistons in said cylinders operatively connected together, means for supporting said cylinders permitting lengthwise movement thereof in the cylinder support, means for moving the cylinders on the support to bring the clay cylinder nozzle into and out of operative po- 85 sition in front of the tap-hole and means for raising and lowering the cylinder support and cylinders carried thereby, said means being arranged to automatically swing the in front of the furnace tap-hole.

13. A clay gun for closing furnace tapholes comprising a clay cylinder, a motive cylinder, pistons in said cylinders and operatively connected together, a support to 'which said cylinders are pivotally secured and clamping means for adjusting the cylinders angularly with respect to the support, said clamping means being arranged to secure the cylinders in adjusted position on said support.

14. A clay gun for closing furnace tapholes comprising a clay cylinder, a motive cylinder, pistons in said cylinders and operon which the cylinders are pivoted, means a for securing the cylinders in angularly adjusted position on said yoke, a support to -which ,said yoke is pivotally secured and clamping means for adjusting the yoke and cylinders angularly withrespeot to the support, said clamping means being arranged to secure the cylinders in adjusted position on said support.

15. An apparatus for stopping furnace tap-holes comprising in combination, a clay gun, a vertically movable support for said gun and means on said support whereby the support and gun isl moved axially during said vertical movement.

16. A clay gun for closing furnace tap holes comprising a clay cylinder, a support to which said cylinder is pivotally secured and clamping means for adjusting the cylinder angularly with respect to its support, said'clamping means being arranged to secure the cylinder in adjusted position on the support.

17 Apparatus for stopping furnace tap holes comprising a clay gun, a movable sup- 130 port to which the clay gun is secured, a sta- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set tionary support on which the movable supmy hand.

port is movably mounted and means on the movable support and stationary support 00- FREDERICK GERWIG' 5 acting to swing the movable support and Witnesses: clay gun axially on the stationary support L. H. PARK, when the movable support is moved. JOHN WMTOPPES. 

